Awareness is a big factor in safety

Published: Monday, December 17, 2012 at 12:41 PM.

“If something doesn’t feel right, follow your intuition,” she said. “Sometimes we talk ourselves out of things, and sometimes we need to be aware of what our gut instinct is telling us.”

Det. Lt. Jason Bettis, supervisor of the Investigation Division of the Jacksonville Police Department, said that being aware takes opportunity away from the criminal.

“You can’t take the desire or the intent away, but you can take the opportunity away,” he said.

He said the most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings.

“If you’re walking to your car, have your keys in your hand, ready to go. Try to not be talking on your phone,” he said. “If you’re going to be a victim, it will be from the time you leave the store to the time you get into your car.”

Criminals look for situations that will facilitate their crime, Bettis said.

“Lessen that opportunity. If you’re on the phone and not paying attention, that may give them their opportunity.”

Everyone has their daily routines — and many are trying to multitask their way through them. That kind of “hurry up” attitude could not only cause stress, but may also be dangerous.

“I think it is a reflection of today’s society,” Dawn Rochelle, a licensed clinical social worker, said. “People think that being able to multitask is a gift. I have found that single tasking is one of the biggest things people can do for their mental health and safety.

“People need to focus on what they are doing.”

It is important to slow down to enjoy life — and keep yourself safe, according to Rochelle.

“We need to be present in what we do and how we do it,” she said.

One example that Rochelle noted was presence of mind when you drive up to your house at night.

“See if everything is the same as when you left,” she said. If something is out of place, something could be wrong.

“If something doesn’t feel right, follow your intuition,” she said. “Sometimes we talk ourselves out of things, and sometimes we need to be aware of what our gut instinct is telling us.”

Det. Lt. Jason Bettis, supervisor of the Investigation Division of the Jacksonville Police Department, said that being aware takes opportunity away from the criminal.

“You can’t take the desire or the intent away, but you can take the opportunity away,” he said.

He said the most important thing is to be aware of your surroundings.

“If you’re walking to your car, have your keys in your hand, ready to go. Try to not be talking on your phone,” he said. “If you’re going to be a victim, it will be from the time you leave the store to the time you get into your car.”

Criminals look for situations that will facilitate their crime, Bettis said.

“Lessen that opportunity. If you’re on the phone and not paying attention, that may give them their opportunity.”

Bettis said that people should follow their gut when leaving a store.

“If you feel wary, a lot of department stores will escort you to your vehicle,” he said. “When in doubt, don’t.”

Bettis also said that criminals look for the easiest way to do things — the situation where they are least likely to get caught. One example is someone who leaves their car running in the morning to melt the frost off their windows.

“If someone is in the area and looking for a car to steal, and out of 10 cars, eight are locked, one is unlocked and one is unlocked and running, which one will they steal?” he asked. “A criminal wants to commit a crime, get his reward and not get caught. It makes it a lot easier for them if it is handed to them on a silver platter.”

Bettis said the best way to prevent car theft is to lock your car door and keep valuables out of sight.

“Breaking in causes noise and if they don’t see anything to steal, they will move on to the next car,” he said.

It all comes back to being present — being mindful of your surrounding and the situations you are in at the moment.

Bettis said that everyone has so much to do and so little time to do it in that people get sidetracked.

“When we get sidetracked,” he said, “things happen.”

The Jacksonville Police Department has provided safety tips on its website for people using an ATM.

• Try to use the ATM in the daytime.

• Have your card in hand and don’t approach the machine if you feel uneasy about people nearby.

• Watch for suspicious activity around ATMs.

• If you do use the ATM after dark, don’t go alone, park close to the ATM and lock your car and if the lights around the ATM aren’t working…don’t use it.

• Stand close to the machine so that no one else can see your access codes.

• Take all of your transaction receipts with you.

• If you get cash, put it away. Don’t count it at the ATM.

• Never accept help from strangers at the ATM. Ask the bank for help later.

• Ask the bank which ATMs have working video cameras. These provide valuable evidence in the event of someone tampering with your account.

• If you use a drive-up ATM, keep your vehicle doors locked and other windows up.